The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-03-11
THE LATE COLONEL SCOTT.
The Cruel Blows He Occasionally Dealt Some
of His Best Friends.

Washington Special
The late Colonel Scott, of the War Records
Office, who died On Saturday, often confounded
many story teller. 1t was ne who had the doc
uinent at his elbow to furnish the exact truth in
regard to every battle and campaign, and every
order or report in regard to them. To him went
host of people who wanted light on the war.
A few weeks before his death Colonel Scott said:
''There are innumerable calls on me from officers
on both sides for exact information about various
movements and engagements. Most OF them
deal with personal affairs. Some fellow who led
a scout wants to hun. mp report whero his
name is mentioned. A maior-general is not
often any more sure Of facts twenty-five years
old than private, and dispute with br other
officer sends both here for the record. 1t not
lnfreouently happens that I unwittingly deal
some of my best friends cruel blows. A West
ern Senator called here year or SO ago and got
documents from me that made Admiral Porter
ridiculously imaginative, where everybody sup
posed he was precisely historical, in regard te
President Lincoln's visit to Richmond at the
surrender, and an alleged interview route
with Duff Green. The greater part Of the story
turned out TO be fiction. One day an old off,
Ger came rushing in, and, IN excited tone, ex-
claimed:
Have you said was not IN the second battle
of Bull Run9
"'No, not exactly that said
"'Wel Bob Scott, was told yon said so and
camc in here to put daylight through you it
you stuck to it,
"'Oh, no. replied. laughing, I never said
you were not in that battle. What said was
that you yourself, In official report dated the
day of the battle. had said you were in the Cum
berland valley. y hundred miles from Centerville
and Bull Run
His eyes looked dizzy and his facs was a most
amusing picture Of CONSERVATION. What said
was true. | tapped bell, called clerk, who
brought the officers official report, and there in
his own Handwriting, over his signature, in black
and white, was his own word that he WAS not at
Bull Rum He read the report through twice in
silense, so solid you could slieeit Then he took
his hat. and, without word, arose and lef, tie
building.
"A prominent officer of my acquaintance has
described often In my hearing with great mi
| nuteness. the battle of the Monitor and tho
Merrimac He told the story as an eye witness,
described his field glass and the point of observa-
ton. / paid no attention to the matter until hal
heard the tale told twice. Then became GU
rious, and hunted up the official reparts made
| by this officer. / found that if he saw the Mon
| itor and Merrimac in that battle his field gass
| was a most powerful one He never saw tho
| Monitor and Merrimac fight, but was at Falls
Church the day Of the battle, if his own reports
| are to be believed There is good deal of &C.
| tion in our war stories.
histories" said Col Scott. come from the
South. The Johnnies fought we'll, and, in the
! absence of good deal else to give them salts
| faction take great pleasure in their lighting.
| Nearly all the prominent Confederate officers
| have visited this old building, and hardly day
passes that we do not receive half dozen letters
| from Southerners asking for information"